On June 7th, Drexel Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics hosted the
inaugural meeting of the department’s External Advisory Board (EAB). The
board, which includes members from the private sector, government, and
academia, came together in Philadelphia from across the country. For
some members this was their first-time visiting Drexel, while others
were returning to the university as alumni. Bringing together a diverse
range of perspectives and experiences, the board convened in this
initial meeting to build a foundational understanding of the state of
the department and its strategic goals.
Led by department head Jonathan Spanier and director Elsa Stanger, the
meeting brought together the twelve board members, including Moogega
Cooper PhD ‘09, Chris Dames, Kivilcim Buyukhatipoglu Eralp PhD ‘10,
Connie Gomez PhD ‘07, James Hing BS ‘03, MS ‘06, PhD ‘10, Max Kaiserman
BS ‘10 MBA ‘21, Kevin Lavelle BS ‘02, MBA ‘04, Nicole Otte, Lawrence
Schuette, Raj Shah, Harry Whitehouse ‘67 and Michael Winter BS ‘84 ,
several of whom participated remotely. The EAB’s mission is to provide
timely guidance and support as the department works toward strategic
initiatives as outlined by the
MEM Strategic Plan. These initiatives include updating and improving curricula, responding
to emerging needs in engineering research and education, providing
recommendations for enhanced infrastructure, and building the
department’s network across sectors.
In addition to establishing an overview of Drexel MEM to set the stage
for the board’s input, the department provided space for student
engagement with the EAB. MEM students shared their work and engaged in
conversation with the board about their experiences at Drexel.
The development of the External Advisory Board marks the start of an
important new phase for Drexel MEM, a crucial step in achieving their
mission as a department. As they continue to meet with the EAB over the
coming months and years, they are committed to building a vibrant and
inclusive academic community, empowering students through integrated and
collaborative education and driving successful application of MEM
discoveries and innovations to address humanity’s most pressing
challenges.